Automatic fertilizing apparatus

Abstract

An automatic fertilizer system apparatus having a liquid fertilizer dispenser for introducing the continuous addition of a selected amount of fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide type chemicals to sprinklers that use an outside waterline. The dispenser having an adjustable metering cap with different diameter through-holes for allowing the contents of the dispenser to be injected into the flowing stream of water which leads to the sprinklers in a selected precise manner. The system splits incoming water into the dispenser, and underneath the dispenser where an orifice having a inwardly facing bevelled through-hole along with the metering cap forms a point of lowest pressure region where the chemicals are injected into an output fluid flow to sprinkler heads in amounts selected and dependent upon by the different sized metering caps.

We claim: 
     
       1. An automatic fertilizing apparatus comprising: an input line for introducing a fluid flow from a fluid flow source;   a first splitter having a first side opening, a top opening, and a second side opening, the first side opening for receiving the fluid flow and separating the fluid flow into a first fluid path through the top opening and into a second fluid path through the second side opening;   a main body housing a chemical liquid, the main body having a first opening in an upper portion of the main body for receiving the chemical liquid therein, a second opening in the upper portion of the main body for receiving the first fluid path and providing an interior fluid flow path to an interior portion of the main body beneath the chemical liquid for raising the chemical liquid, and a bottom opening in the main body;   a metering means within the main body for preselecting the amount of the raised chemical liquid that passes to the bottom opening, the metering means forming a chemical liquid path;   a second splitter having a first side opening, a top opening and a second side opening, the first side opening for receiving the second fluid path, a top opening connected to the bottom opening of the main body for receiving the chemical liquid path, the second side opening connected to an output line;   an obstruction means having a central orifice through-hole, the obstruction means positioned between the first side opening of the second splitter and the second side opening of the first splitter, wherein the obstruction means causes a pressure differential on both sides thereof with a point of lowest pressure within the second splitter, and the metering means controlling the preselected amounts of the chemical liquid being injected into the output line.   
     
     
       2. The automatic fertilizer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metering means includes: a removable cap having a variable sized diameter through-hole thereof, the variable sized diameter through-hole being equivalent to the preselected amounts of the chemical liquid to be mixed with the fluid flow.   
     
     
       3. The automatic fertilizer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the metering means further includes: a pipe having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main body, the pipe having an upper end with the removable cap located at approximately same height to the first opening of the main body, the pipe having a lower end for feeding into the top opening of the second tee splitter.   
     
     
       4. The automatic fertilizer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central orifice through-hole in the obstruction means includes: a bevelled edge facing the point of lowest pressure within the second splitter.   
     
     
       5. The automatic fertilizer apparatus of claim 3, further including: a focussing means for directing the fluid flow from the the lower end of the pipe to the point of lowest pressure region.   
     
     
       6. The automatic fertilizer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chemical liquid is chosen from at least one of: fertilizer, insecticide, and herbicide.   
     
     
       7. The automatic fertilizer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output line includes: a sprinkler system.   
     
     
       8. The automatic fertilizer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow source includes: a city water supply.   
     
     
       9. A method of injecting selected amounts of chemicals into a fluid flow path comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a fluid flow path;   (b) splitting the fluid flow path into a second fluid path and a third fluid path;   (c) metering a chemical into the second fluid path into an interchangeable cap having different through-hole diameters equivalent to preselected amounts of chemicals and passing the chemical by the second fluid path down through a pipe to form a chemical liquid path; and   (d) forming a pressure differential between the chemical liquid path and the third fluid path, a region on one side of the differential being the point of lowest pressure corresponding to the preselected amounts of chemicals per an output fluid path.   
     
     
       10. The method of injecting the selected amount of chemicals of claim 9, wherein the output fluid path includes: a sprinkler system.   
     
     
       11. The method of injecting the selected amount of chemicals of claim 9, wherein the pressure differential forming step(d) includes: metering the third fluid path to the point of lowest pressure.   
     
     
       12. The method of injecting the selected amount of chemicals of claim 11, further including the step of: focussing the fluid flow from the pipe to the point of lowest pressure region.   
     
     
       13. The method of injecting the selected amount of chemicals of claim 9, wherein the chemical includes at least one chosen from: fertilizer, insecticide, and herbicide.   
     
     
       14. An automatic fertilizing apparatus comprising: means for introducing a fluid flow from a fluid flow source;   a first splitter having a first side opening, a top opening, and a second side opening, the first side opening for receiving the fluid flow and separating the fluid flow into a first fluid path through the top opening and into a second fluid path through the second side opening;   a main body housing a chemical liquid, the main body having a first opening in an upper portion of the main body for receiving the chemical liquid therein, a second opening in the upper portion of the main body for receiving the first fluid path and providing a fluid flow path to an interior portion of the main body beneath the chemical liquid for raising the chemical liquid, and a bottom opening in the main body;   a metering cap attached to a pipe within the main body for preselecting the amount of the raised chemical liquid that passes to the bottom opening, the metering cap having a variable sized diameter through-hole thereof, the variable sized diameter through-hole being equivalent to a preselected amount of the chemical liquid to be mixed with the fluid flow, the metering cap and the pipe forming a chemical liquid path to the bottom opening;   a second splitter having a first side opening, a top opening and a second side opening, the first side opening for receiving the second fluid path, a top opening connected to the bottom opening of the main body for receiving the chemical liquid path, the second side opening connected to an output line;   an obstruction means having a central orifice through-hole, the obstruction means positioned between the first side opening of the second splitter and the second side opening of the first splitter, wherein the obstruction means causes a pressure differential on both sides thereof with a point of lowest pressure within the second splitter, and the metering means controlling the preselected amounts of the chemical liquid being injected into the output line.